Sleep & routines
How long should a child's bedtime routine be?
A child's bedtime routine should last 20 to 45 minutes. Research links a consistent 30-minute wind-down to faster sleep onset and fewer night wakings. Keep the same order of steps every night.
The goal of a bedtime routine is to send a clear, repeated signal that sleep is coming. Twenty to forty-five minutes is the sweet spot: long enough to calm the body, short enough to avoid stalling. A common sequence is bath, pajamas and teeth, one or two stories, then lights out. The exact steps matter less than doing them in the same order at the same time each night.
Keep the last 15 minutes low-stimulation: dim the lights, lower your voice, and avoid screens. A story is the ideal final step because it is calming, predictable, and something your child looks forward to. If bedtime is dragging past 45 minutes, trim a step rather than adding new ones — consistency and calm beat length.
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